Washboard support for bathtubs



July 9, 1935. B, l. DILGER WASHBOARD SUIDPORT FOR BATHTUBS Filed NOV. 27, 1953 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July Y9, 1935 QQUNITED PAT-ENT OFFICE s 'aoomszzkf n j 1 i 's r'Wisynorntn sUPron'r Fon. BATHTUBS y "Boor,Dngoniinningham,Ala, c

s Y l n Application Nov'omborlzv, iosstsor'ial No. 699,851

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Y ninvention` relates toa support 'adaptedE to hold a washboa'rd in convenient positiongior usef 'rear brace with rubber sleeves `to prevent their vslipping or -defacing the tub.

My invention ffurther comprises the novel de- As a general rule itisn tV practicable to utilize washhoardsfcrthe washing Vof garmentsr in bathf tubs, `because the ordinarybath tub' is low sothat 4one cannot conveniently workl at'a. washboard t Si?? therein," ven assuming that .al Washboaf could, withoutthe assistance ofi` afsuitable sup# ltport" y f Y foruse inthe tub;V

bittere-holder iyfvin propor position have "conceivedjhowevierg thatthere is a real need `for a simple, inexpensive A and effective means nby viflliich a washboard can be supported inY various sizes and shapes of bath tubs'in'such manner and in ysuch position thatit canvbe conveniently used by ahouse wife. i n

` further object of.l myfinvention is to design a holder icapable 'of f permitting" the washboard mounted therein'to b vadjusted'vertically to suit `thuser;` v

f A further-oojoot or my invention, tnoiohis ofj material infiportance,v is to"` design" the'holder so that it willforma marginal brace adapted'to 213* be oiampod about thewoodon frame ofthe wasnboard "so ,as to reinforceit, hold its parts firmly togetherg'and protectit, thus greatly extendingthe: life"v or" the washboard `and preventing its frame pulling apart or workingloose so las to 355 destroyv theiiSeUIneSs of the Washboard.

My invention further'contemplates the pro.-`

vision of ausingle iron` frame? comprising side members connected overhead andV "braced 4at an intermediate point by a'transverse clamp bolt whichcany be' tightened to' cause the frame to` tightly clamp itself `about the Washbo'ard, the

frame having lsufficient "flexibility to accommo date itselfto the' normal variations A l My invention further contemplates associating such-a frame withv adjustable rearbra'ces which engagea rimJof` the tubin such `manner-that when the holder rests on'thetuh-bottom,` it will A be braced fand -heldrmly in' position underiuse` 45 which will support `the washboard over `the tub willnot so that in -using itv the bath roomfloor be 'splashedwithfsoap and Water. I y

1 My invention further contemplates mounting rthe rim, engaging framelegs on the clamp bolt 5o andproviding one or more-wing ynuts which serve effectively both tcrcIampA the rear brace members in `the desired. adjustment and to hjoid toegangpielly assembled with" the frametfl l My, .i ventf on further Jcontemplatesthe cover- 55'? iiig of theJ root and rim'on'gagiog portions of the tailsr of construction and arrangements of parts which, in theirpreferred embodiment onlyyare illustrated in the'accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which:-

"Fig 1 is a perspective View of thevwashboardt supporting frame work with the washboard ref4 I moved and the parts set in position ready for use.

Fig. 2 isa side elevationof the support carrying the washboard and set in a bath tub ready Vfor Ifshow a marginal frame work vformed of alight angle iron and comprising side legs `5 and 6 connected overheadby a top cross. member 'L The base flangeof` the angle iron on each side is extended beyond the sidefflanges and bent to'provideY` a curved lfoot piece4 'la which is encased in a rubber sleeve 8.` The side flange of the angle ironsadjacentlto the foot pieces "la is slit to form a tongue 9 that` is bent to provide a stop to limit 'the -downwardadjustment of the washboardflvll. On the back of the legs of the frame inthe lower middle portion thereof I mount two aligned bearings I I which receive a crossfclampl t that the hookend- I8 drops low enoughto provide 'anamplethrust bearing engagement with the ytlopgornm I9 of the tub so thatit win not slip thereover while the washboard isfinuse. l These legs ISnear their ends carry a cross rod 2tA adapted-.to interlock inthe selected notches 2| in the brace arms 22 which are-pivoted at-23 tothesides of the-frame near their upper ends.

The washboard comprises the customary corrug'ated rubbing surface 24 and the jointed marginal wooden -frame,25. The angle iron sides of thesupport," in which vare 'seated the side members Yof the washboard, thus not only hold the Wash-- board,`which sets at the desired angle 'and adjusted Y position in the bath tub, but also effectively brace y the frame of the washboard so as to give it the maximum life in service.

By reference to this Fig. 3 it will be apparent that the tightening of the wing nuts will act to clamp the rear brace legs I3 tightly against the frame sides like washers so that they will be braced rigidly in their adjusted position with their cross rod 20 engaged in the desired notches 2| of the brace arms 22. Thus assembled, the supportcan be set in the tub and itwill hold the washboard ilrmly in a very convenient position for washing to be done on it.

The washboard can be adjusted high or low in the frame by loosening the wing nuts and slipping it up or down. When the device is not in use, the wing nuts can be loosened, the rear legs swung down into collapsed position against the frame and the side brace arms vswung downwardly until their cross rod engages the frame, when the support will be collapsed into very small space for storage.

It is preferable that the frame be left clamped about the washboard at all times for the protection it will give the latter against warping or working loose.

The design of the rear brace elements and their tub engaging portions will be such as to intert with the ordinary standard bath tub rim and it will be observed that it is unnecessary for the foot pieces 8 to engage the opposite side of the tub as they will rest with suilicient firmness on the tub bottom to hold the frame in working position. l

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed-by the prior art or as are speciilcally set vforth in the appended claims.

What I claim isz- 1. In a washboard support for bath tubs, an angle iron` frame adapted to stand upright in a tub and comprising a top member and side legs having at their lower ends flanges bent to form feet, bearings attached to the back of the frame, a cross bolt mounted in the bearings, a brace arm mounted on each end of the bolt, a Wing nut to clamp each arm against the frame sides and the frame sides against the washboard sides, notched members hinged to the frame near its top, and a cross member connecting the brace arms and adapted to engage the notched members, said rear brace arms shaped to form a hook adapted to engage and take a thrust bearing against Ythe rim of the tub.k f

Y2. The combination with a complete Washboard, of a-frame for supporting same in upwardly inclined position offset from the rim of a bath tub, comprising upright frame supports adapted to rest on the bottom of the tub and having means to clamp the washboard thereto free for vertical adjustment thereon, and brace means adjustably connected to said supports and adapted to engage over, and take a thrust bearing from the inside against the tub rim to hold the washboard braced in offset relation to said rim.

3. The combination with a washboard having a wooden marginal frame, of a metallic support for said washboard comprising an upwardly inclined metalframe in which' the washboard frame'is adapted to be embraced, means to clamp 75 ,l said metal frame about .the wooden frame to brace the latter, said metal frame having side legs extending downwardly beyond the bottom of the Wooden frame and adapted to rest on, and support the washboard substantially spaced above, the tub bottom, and rear braces adjustably connected to said metal frame and adapted to engage over and take an inner thrust bearing against a side wall of the bath tub to support the washboard substantially offset therefrom and elevated above the tub bottom.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a washboard and itsl frame, of a supplemental frame for supporting the washboard upright comprising side angles set to receive the washboard frame between them free for upward adjustment therein and elongated to project below the washboard sides to form supports therefor, a cross clamp means comprising a transverse bolt extending through the frame behind the washboard carrying a clamp nut adapted to bind the metallic frame angles against the washboard frame to brace and reinforce the latter and hold it in desired adjusted position, and braces connected to the, supplemental frame and adapted to engage over and take a thrust bearing against the inner side of the tub rim to support the washboard in oiIset relation thereto, said braces comprising pivoted members mounted on the end o! said bolt and adapted to be held in set position against the frame by said clamp nut.

5. The combination with a complete washboard, of a supplemental frame for, bracing the washboard in upright position in a bath tub, comprising side members secured to the sides oi' the washboard frame and extending downwardly beyond same to form feet adapted to rest on the bottom of the tub and support the washboard in elevated position above same, and a pair of adjustable braces connecteduto each side member of the supporting frame and having a cross tie member near their free ends, said ends comprising members adapted to engage over, and take a thrust bearing against the inner side oi', the tub rim. f

6. A device according to claim 5, in which each pair of brace members comprises a lower member to which the cross tie is connected and the outer ends of which are deformed to produce the rim engaging elements, said lower member being pivoted on the frame and having clamp means to lock it in adjusted positions, and the other brace of each pair being notched to engage the cross tie in different adjusted positions.

y'7. A frame for supporting a washboard in upright position in a bath tub, comprising side legs adapted to rest on the tub bottom, means engaging said legs and adapted to attach a washboard thereto, and relatively adjustable interlocked brace members on the back of the frame which comprise hook ends adapted to ilt over the tub rim and provide an inner thrust bearing to hold the washboard in offset relationship from said rim.

8. A frame for mounting a washboard in a bath tub in upwardly inclined position, comprising side members having greater length than the washboard and adapted at their lower ends to rest on the tub bottom and at their upper ends having brace elements, means to adjustably engage said brace elements which comprise hooks adapted to t over the tub rim and present a thrust shoulder against the inner side of the rim to hold the frame rmly inclined and oiset irom the tub rim, and clamp means engaging said side members and adapted to secure the washboard in position between them free for vertical adjustment. y

9. A frame for supporting a washboard in upright position in a bath tub, comprising a U- shapedframe having angle iron sides and rubber covered feet adapted to rest on the bottom of the tub, said frame being adapted topermit awashboard to set between and be upwardly adjusted relatively to saidframe, a cross clamp member adapted to'bind the washboard in adjusted position, upwardly inclined brace arms carrying hooks adapted to engage over the tub and shaped to .provide a thrust bearing against the innerfface of the tub, and complemental brace members carried by the upper portion of the frame and adapted to cooperate with the lower braces and hold the framev and washboard offset from the tub rim.

10. A frame according to claim 7in which the braces are adapted to hold the washboard upwardly inclined with its upper end above but spaced inwardly of the tub with relation to said tub rim.

BEN I. DILGER. 

